Quicksplained: Inside the opulent Brunei palace, the world’s largest, which will host PM Modi

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a two-day visit to the Southeast Asian country, Brunei, the first by an Indian PM.

He will be meeting Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah , the ruler of the sovereign state, at his residence, the Istana Nurul Iman Palace.

The Istana Nurul Imam Palace is the world’s largest residential palace and even has its name registered in Guinness World Records.

Here’s all we know about it.

About the world’s largest palace

• Istana Nurul Iman, which translates to “Palace of the Light of Faith,” is located near Brunei’s capital, Bandar Seri Begawan.

• According to NDTV, it was commissioned by Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah in 1981. Designed by Filipino architect Leonardo Locsin, with interior designs by Khuan Chew (UK), the palace was constructed by Ayala Corporation and completed in 1984 at a total cost of around $1.4 billion.

• The largest residential palace spans an exorbitant 200,000 square metres, boasting 1,788 rooms, 257 bathrooms, and 44 staircases made of 38 kinds of marble. It also features a banquet hall capable of hosting 5,000 guests. The palace also houses parking space or a garage for 110 cars, an air-conditioned stable for 200 polo ponies, five swimming pools, and a mosque with a capacity of 1,500 worshippers.

• The palace’s luxurious architecture is a blend of Brunei’s Islamic culture and Malay traditions. The interior, which features gold and marble, is designed by Khuan Chew, who also designed Dubai’s Burj Al Arab. The golden domes, which include a central dome studded with 22-carat gold, are constructed to complement its elegant white exterior. According to Times Property, the palace has a world-class collection of artworks by renowned painters. This includes a Renoir painting that Sultan purchased in 1980 for $70 million.

• Since many members of the royal family have government roles, they reside and work at the palace. The offices of key government officials are also located here. The structure has also hosted a series of events, including the 28th Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting, which was held virtually.

• According to Times Property, Sultan Bolkiah opens his palace to the public during an annual event, Hari Raya (Aidil Fitri), marking the end of Ramadan. The practice, also known as “rumah terbuka (open home),” encourages people from all walks of like to celebrate key festivals in Brunei and Malaysia together.

• However, it is not the most expensive palace, as the distinction belongs to London’s Buckingham Palace, which is worth $2.9 billion.

With inputs from agencies